Adjustable weatherstripping for thresholds



Aug. 22, 1961 A. T. KUNKEL 2,995,769

ADJUSTABLE WEATHERSTRIPPING FOR THRESHOLDS Filed Aug. 8, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. ALOYSIUS T KUNKEL BY fiwmh i M ATTORNEY g-22, 1951 A. T. KUNKEL 2,996,769

ADJUSTABLE WEATHERSTRIPPING F OR THRESHOLDS Filed Aug. 8, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. T F168 33 ALOYS/US T.KUNKEL v ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 2,996,769 ADJUSTABLE WEATHERS'IRIPPING FOR THRESli-IOLDSAloysius T. Kunkel, 561 Fernwood Drive, Akron, Ohio;

Albert A. Kunkel administrator of the estate of said Aloysius T. Kunkel,dece'ased Filed Aug. 8, 1955, Ser. No. 526,817 8 Claims. (Cl. 20-68)This invention relates to Weatherstripping apparatus, and in particular,relates to improvements in weatherstripping units that are designed toseal the horizontal clearance space that exists between the lowermostsection of a swingable closure member and the threshold or frame memberthat is positioned adjacent thereto.

In the construction of swingable closure members, it is a well knownfact that the dimension of a door, for example, is never exactly thesame as the dimension of the frame within which the same is swingablymounted, in view of the fact that clearance must be provided betweenthese members for various reasons. Because such clearance areas arevulnerable to the passage of air, weatherstripping of various types ispositioned in such clearance areas, in an attempt to minimize the heatloss occurring at these points.

Representative of such clearance is the vertical spacing that isprovided between the bottom portion of a door and the adjacentthreshold. This vertical clearance is provided for the purpose ofeliminating among other things, binding between the threshold and thedoor that is swingably mounted with respect thereto.

With particular respect to the sealing or Weatherstripping of thethreshold area of a swinging door, for example, the known prior artdiscloses several forms of Weatherstripping varying in complexity fromthe simple wiper type of Weatherstripping that merely makes frictionalcontact with the threshold, to certain complex types that depend, fortheir effectiveness, on an intricate interlock between the door and thethreshold to efiectuate the purported seal therebetween.

Two salient disadvantages presently characterize the known type ofWeatherstripping for thresholds that are above discussed.

First, because the present type of Weatherstripping can be positionedonly in certain minimum clearance areas between the threshold and thedoor, it is necessary to fit" this Weatherstripping between the door andthe threshold with a certain degree of accuracy, with the result thatsuch installation can normally only be made by skilled artistsspecializing in such type of work. Additionally, because the thresholdmember is normally metal, present practice dictates that the alterationof door size be accomplished by sawing or planing the door until therequired fit or clearance with respect to the threshold is obtained.Such a procedure can be employed on doors or closure members that aremade of wood, although in actuality, the same is disadvantageous becauseof the labor cost'that is involvedin such fitting operations that areabove described.

However, when metal or aluminum doors are being installed such asfitting operation is not possible at all, in 'view of the fact that themetal frame members of the door cannot be sawed or planed by theordinary tools possessed and used by journeymen of the trade.Accordi-ngly, at the present time installers of such metal doorsnormally leave as small a clearance as possible between the door and thethreshold area, and omit the installation of Weatherstripping in thisarea. Such a procedure is disadvantageous because of the obvious heatloss that occurs in this area.

" The second disadvantage of the known prior art relates Patented Aug.22, 1961 to the inability of the same to clean itself of normal foreignobjects that accrue on the top surface of the threshold per se, duringnormal use. Such objects include rain water, sleet, snow, dirt and grit.This lack of self-cleaning ability in such structure arises becauseconventional Weatherstripping requires that the wiper or other contactelement that is secured to the closure member be positioned adjacent theinternal surface of the door, so as to make a purported sealing contactwith that raised portion of the threshold that is adjacent the innersurface of the door being sealed. The fact that an artificially createdfriction contact accounts for whatever.

sealing is obtained, dictates that this pressure of contact be great;and accordingly, such wiper contacts could not be provided adjacent theouter portion of the closure member because of the obvious fact that thedoor could not be closed, in view of the interference that wouldexistwith respect to the threshold member.

To the present time, the known prior art has attempted to alleviate thisdifficulty by providing drain-backs that attempt to centrally collectsuch foreign objects and then wash the same to a point exterior of thedoor by the use of liquids that are entrapped during a storm, forexample. Such drain-back systems have been found to defeat themselves,however, in view of the fact that the dirt accruing invariably clogs theentry ports to the collecting chamber, with the result thatthe liquidcannot enter the chamber to effectuate the desired washing action.

In addition to the foregoing limitations of such drain; back systems, itis apparent that the same are expensive in construction because of theintricate design thereof, with the result that the cost of the same tothe ultimate purchaser is excessive.

Another limitation of the known prior art type of Weatherstripping forthreshold areas, relates to the fact that a single sealing contact isnormally relied on at the present time, to prevent air passage in thisclearance area existing between the door and the threshold, it beingheretofore impractical to provide a second sealing barrier adjacent theoutside face of the 'door, because of the unsolved interference problemsoccurring in the limited vertical space that is capable of beingutilized to eifectuate 7, 1959 there has been disclosed an improved typeof.

Weatherstripping of a proper degree.

In co-pending application Serial No. 502,321, filed. April 19, 1955, nowPatent No. 2,880,477, issued April Weatherstripping unit for thethreshold door of a metallic swingableclosure member.

The adjustment mechanism of this co-pending applica-. tion contemplatesthe. loosening and positioning, together with the resetting in a lockedposition, ofthe sealing her that is capable of fine adjustment with theuse of sim-.

ple hand tools and without the necessity for removing the door for thepurposes of such adjustment.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustableWeatherstripping unit of the character above described, characterized bythe fact that the same can be positioned over a wide range of clearancedistances that exist between the door per se, and the threshold adjacentthereto.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an adjustableWeatherstripping unit for sealing the vertical clearance existingbetween a swingable metal door and a threshold therefor, that ischaracterized by the presence of a plurality. of sealing points, each ofwhich operates to create, in effect, a sealing that resists the passageof wind and foreign objects to the clearance that exists between themetal door and the threshold.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an adjustableWeatherstripping unit for use at the threshold area of a metallic door,that is characterized by the presence of an improved sealing means forcontact with the threshold per se.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new andimproved type of door frame that includes as a component elementthereof, a built-in threshold member that does not need to be adjustedupon installation.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent upona reading of the following brief specification, considered andinterpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away and in section andillustrating the improved sealing means illustrated on a swingablemetallic door, positioned in a preformed metal frame.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating in breakaway the componentparts of the Weatherstripping unit per se.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation, partly broken away and in section andillustrating the improved weatherstripping unit.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the lines 4-4 of FIG- URE 3, and showing thesealing means of the improved Weatherstripping in the normal position.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing the sealing means inthe extended position.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section andillustrating a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view taken on the lines 77 of FIG- URE 6, and showing thesealing means in the retracted position.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, but showing the sealing means inthe extended position.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGURE 1 thereof,the improved Weatherstripping unit, generally designated by the numeral10, is shown secured to a door D so as to efiectuate a sealing actionwith a threshold T that is provided as one integral part of a metallicframe F.

As best shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the Weatherstripping unit 10is shown as being defined by a securing channel 111 that receivesinteriorly thereof a supporting channel 12; the arrangement being suchthat adjustment means 13 moves the channel 12 relatively of channel 11so as to effectuate adjustment of sealing means 14 in a manner to bedescribed.

Considering first the structure of the securing channel 11, it will beseen from the drawings that the same is of elongated U-shapedconfiguration so as to define a base and perpendicularly extending sideflanges 21 and 22, with the entire channel 11 being received within therectangular cutout slot 5 provided in the lowermost surface of the doorD (see FIGURE 4). In addition to the aforementioned component parts, thebase portion 20 is provided with a series of apertures 23, 23, two ofwhich are provided at each axial end thereof for the purpose ofattaching the adjustment means with respect thereto, as will bepresently described. Also, additional apertures 24, 24 are provided (seeFIGURE 2) for the purpose of securing the channel member 11. to the dooras will be described.

Turning now to the detailed construction of the supporting channel 12,it will be seen that the same is of elongated H-shaped configuration,wherein a pair of vertically extending side flanges 27, 28 areinterconnected by horizontalflange member 29; the arrangement being suchthat the leg members 27 and 28, respectively abut against the flangemembers 21 and 22 in sliding contact therewith; while the horizontalmember 29 coacts with the adjustment means 13, as will be presentlydescribed. In addition, the lowermost portion of the leg members 27, 28are shown provided with return flanges 30, 30 that define, with members27, 28 and 29 an elongated T- shaped recess for reception therein of thesealing means 14.

In addition to the aforementioned component parts, the supportingchannel 12 is shown as being apertured as at 30a (see FIGURE 4) for thepurpose of receiving therethrough a screw or nail N that will passthrough apertures 24, as will be presently described.

To this end the sealing means 14 are shown as including a T-shaped head31 that is receivable in the just mentioned recess of channel 12. Theactual sealing edges of the sealing means 14 are shown defined by aplurality of resilient fingers 32, 32 that depend from the main bodyportion 33 of sealing means 14 so as to contact the threshold T andeffectuate a sealing and wiping contact therewith.

Considering next the structure of the adjustment means- 13, it will beseen that the same utilizes a fixed block 40 and movable blocks 41, 42to effectuate raising and lowering of the previously described sealingmeans 14; the arrangement being such that block 40 is fixed with respectto channel 11 by bolts 43, 43 passed through apertures 23, 23 thereof,while block 42 is secured with respect to channel 1 1 through springloaded bolt 44 which has the threaded end 4411 thereof received inhorizontal member 29 of channel 11, it being apparent that screws (notshown) could also be utilized to secure bolt 42 withrespect to thehorizontal member 29 of channel 11. In this manner, horizontal movementof block 41 will vertically raise or lower the position of channel 11 soas to accordingly adjust the sealing means 14 that are carried bychannel 12 as has been previously described.

To the end of elfectuating such horizontal movement of block 41, thesame (block 41) is shown secured with respect to fixed block 40, throughthe medium of screw or shaft 45 that has the end 45a thereof threadedinteriorly of block 41, while the head end 45!; thereof is received ininternal aperture 46 of block 40, with collar 47 being employed toobviate axial shifting of screw 45 with respect to block 40. Similarly,the actual head portion 450 of screw 45 is shown presented interiorly ofblock 40 by being seated against recessed shoulder 48, and in thismanner the length of the unit 10 may be trimmed without effecting theadjustment means 13 thereof.

For the purpose of permitting vertical movement of block 42 uponhorizontal movement of block 41 as shown by the directional arrows ofFIGURE 2, the blocks 41, 42 areshown provided with inclined faces 51 and52 respectively. With this arrangement of component parts, a wedgingaction will be obtained and accordingly, as the surface 51 of block 41is moved horizontally to the left of FIGURE 3 into contact with face 52by turning screw 45, the block 42 will be lowered, with spring 50 beingcompressed so as to urge the block 42 upwardly so that the same (block42) will be raised upon backing off" of screw 45.

In use or operation of the improved device for effectuatingWeatherstripping, it will first be assumed'that the door D has had theappropriate slot S (see FIGURE 4) provided thereon for the purpose ofreceiving the securing channel 11 therein; and additionally, that theappropriate bores B, B have been drilled vertically into the slot S forthe purpose of accommodating the bolt 44 and spring 50. It will befurther assumed that the component parts of the Weatherstripping unithave been assembled into a complete unit.

With the door prepared as just indicated, it is merely necessary thatthe securing channel 11 of unit :10 be secured with respect to the slotS by passing the head and body portion of a nail N through the apertures30a, 30a of flange 29, so that the head portion of the nail thereof maybe received against base portion 20, while the body portion of the nailN may project into the wood of the door D to thus secure the channel 11with respect thereto.

With the unit thus secured to door D, the unit 10 is ready for use, andit is merely necessary, in the event that the fingers 32, 32 are to beraised or lowered, to apply rotational force to the screw 45. Thisturning force to the screw 45 will operate to move the block 41 to theleft of FIGURE 3, for example; at which time the inclined surface 51thereof will strike the inclined surface 52 of block '42 and cause thesame to be lowered, with the result that the supporting channel 12, aswell as the fingers 32, 32 carried thereby, will be correspondinglylowered. In the event-it is desired to raise the fingers 32, 32 out oftheir point of contact with the threshold T, it is merely necessary thatrotational force be applied in the opposite direction to the head 450 ofscrew 45; at which time the fingers 32, 32 will be raised as a result ofthe spring 50 moving the bolt 44 and channel 12 upwardly, while theblock 41 moves to the right of FIG- URE 3.

It is believed apparent that additional adjustment of this improved typeof Weatherstripping unit may be facilitated at any time by merelyinserting a screw driver, for example, within the usual slot of the head45c of screw 45 and merely turning the same to raise or lower thefingers 32, 32 as has just been described.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified form of the inventionthat differs primarily from the previously described form of theinvention in the form and type of adjustment means employed. Thus whereindicated, like numerals indicate like parts.

Accordingly, the sealing unit 10 is shown received within slot .8 ofdoor D as before, and includes a U- shaped securing channel 12 that hasinturned flanges 30, 30 for receiving therein the T-head 31 of sealingmeans 14. In this manner, the fingers 32, 32 may be raised or loweredwith respect to threshold T by operation of the adjustment means 14.

As best shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, each adjustmentmeans 14 provided adjacent opposed ends of unit 10 includes a bearingblock 60 internally apertured as at 61 to receive a shaft 62; thearrangement being such that end 62a thereof includes a turning slot 63,while the opposite end 62b thereof defines a cam member 64 that isprovided with a cam surface 65. While the block 60 is secured tosecuring channel 11, a second block 66 is secured to channel 12 throughthe medium of bolt 44 which projects upwardly through channel 11 forseating in bore B with spring 50 constantly urging channel 12 and thecomponent parts thereof to the position of FIGURE 6.

In use or operation of this modified form of the invention, it willfirst be assumed that door D has been provided with slot S and bores Band further, that the unit 10 has had the various component partsthereof assembled. At this time, nails N, N may he passed in entiretythrough apertures 30a, 30a, and the ends thereof additionally passedthrough apertures 24, 24 to effectuate attachment of unit 10 to door D.With the unit thus positioned, a screw driver (not shown) may have theend thereof placed in slot 63 and upon turning of the same, the camsurface 65 will move from the position of FIGURE 7 towards the positionof FIGURE 8, and during such movement will, by virtue of its contactwith channel '12, cause the same (channel 12) to move downwardly, withthe result that fingers 32, 32 will also be lowered accordingly.Opposite rotational movement of shaft 62 will result in raising offingers 32, 32 with Spring 50 aiding in the return of the componentparts to the 6 position of FIGURE 7. As before, it is apparent that theend 62a of shaft 62 could be recessed in block 60 so as to permittrimming of the length of unit 10, as previously described.

It is believed apparent that in the event the unit 10 was to be used formetal doors that were incapable of being bored with bores B, B toreceive spring 50, that a leaf spring arrangement could be employed ineither form of the invention above described with the leaf springsecured, for example, to securing channel 11 so as to constantly urgesupporting channel 12 away from channel 11.

It will be seen from the foregoing that there has been provided a newand novel type of Weatherstripping unit that .is characterized by theease with which the same can be finely adjusted to fit within a widerange of clearances. In disclosing the invention, certain parts havebeen specifically described as to configuration and composition for thesake of clarity. It is to be understood, however, that the basic conceptherein disclosed is limited only by the scope of the hereinafterpresented claims.

Acordingly, other modifications of the invention may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appendedclaims.

This application is a continuation in part of co-pending applicationSerial No. 502,321, filed April 19, 1955, now Patent No. 2,880,477,issued April 7, 1959.

What is claimed is:

l. A Weatherstripping unit of the character described, comprising; anelongated securing member, defined by a base and at least one guideflange projecting therefrom; a second elongated supporting member,defined by a base and having at least one leg flange positioned insliding contact-with said guide flange of said first mentioned securing"member; an elongated sealing strip carried bythe base portion of saidsecond mentioned support ing member; andmeans operable between said baseportions of said first and second mentioned members to urge said membersapart under tension; said means including a block, fixed to saidsecuring member; a second block, shiftable longitudinally of said firstblock and having an inclined face defining one longitudinal end thereof;and a third block, fixed to said supporting memher and having aninclined face defining one longitudinal end thereof; said inclined facesof said second and third blocks being abutted, whereby longitudinalmovement of said second block will result in vertical movement of saidthird block.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that saidthird block is tensionally urged towards said securing channel.

3. A Weatherstripping unit for attachment to movable closure members ofthe character described, comprising; an elongate securing member fixedto said closure memher and having longitudinal ends; an elongatesupporting member having longitudinal ends that are longitudinal alignedwith said longitudinal ends of said securing member and being shiftablycarried by said closure member so as to be movable towards and from saidclosure member; a sealing strip carried by said supporting member andbeing movable therewith; a shaft rotatably carried by said securingmember and extending longitudinally thereof with one end of said shaftbeing disposed adjacent one longitudinal end of said securing member;means for urging said supporting and securing members towards each otherunder tension; and means carried by the inboard end of said shaft forspreading said support and securing members apart upon rotation of saidshaft the longitudinal ends of said securing and said supporting membersremaining longitudinally aligned during said spreading.

4. A Weatherstripping unit of the character described comprising; anelongated securing member defined by a base and at least one guideflange projecting therefrom and having longitudinal ends; an elongatedsupporting member defined by a base and having at least one leg flangepositioned in sliding .contact with said guide flange of said securingmember said supporting member having longitudinal ends that arelongitudinally aligned with said longitudinal ends of said securingmember; an elongated sealing strip carried by the base portion of saidsupporting member; tension means normally urging said securing andsupporting members towards each other; and means operable between saidbase portions of said supporting and securing members to urge the sameapart under tension by overcoming the force of said tension means thelongitudinal ends of said securing and said supporting members remaininglongitudinally aligned during said spreading.

5. A Weatherstripping unit for attachment to movable closure members ofthe character described, comprising; an elongate securing member havingopposed longitudinal ends, with said securing member being fixed to oneedge of said closure member; an elongate supporting member havingopposed longitudinal ends that are longitudinally aligned with thelongitudinal ends of said securing member; an elongate sealing stripcarried'by said supporting member; tension means for tensionally urgingsaid securing and supporting members towards each other; and means forselectively overcoming said tension means and moving said securing andsaid supporting member's apart under tension; said last mentioned meansincluding a shaft rotatably iournaled to said securing member andextending longitudinally thereof; a cam surface defined by saidsupporting member; and cam means carried by said shaft and acting uponsaid cam surface upon rotation of said shaft; said longitudinal ends ofsaid securing and said supporting members remaining longitudinallyaligned during the moving apart of said securing and supporting members.

6. The device of claim further characterized by the fact that said cammeans include a rotatable cam member having an inclined cam faceengageable with said cam surface of said supporting member.

7. The device of claim 5 further characterized by the fact that said cammeans include a pair of relatively shift- 8 able block memberscontacting each other through complementally inclined surfaces thereof,whereby horizontal movement of one said block 'will'result in verticalmovement of said remaining block.

8. A weather stripping unit of the character described, comprising; anelongated securing member defined by a base and at least one guideflange projecting therefrom and having opposed longitudinal ends; anelongated supporting member having opposed longitudinal ends and beingdefined by a base and having at least one leg flange positioned insliding contact with said guide flange of said securing member; anelongated sealing strip carried by the base portion of said supportingmember; and means operable between said base portions of said securingand supporting members to urge said members apart under tension; saidmeans including a shaft, disposed between said base portions and beingrotatably carried by said securing member; and a cam wheel secured aboutits axis to one end of said shaft and having an inclined cam facecontacting said base portions, whereby the same may be moved apart uponrotation of said shaft; said opposed longitudinal ends of said securingand said supporting members remaining longitudinally aligned duringmovement apart of said supporting and securing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS476,646 Hull June 7, 1892 630,216 Grover Aug. 1, 1899 652,489 Sandberget a1 June 26, 1900 746,910 Zimmerman Dec. 15, 1903 1,460,312 Caron June26, 1923 1,649,070 Lerch Nov. 15, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 182,911Switzerland June 2, 1936 470,989 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1937 753,868Germany Dec. 8, 1952

